Question 1

You are scheduled to discuss a negative performance evaluation with one of the employees you supervise. How can you emphasize the positive during your conversation?

Accepted Answer

In cases like this, it is best to emphas

Question 2

Which of the following sentences contains the strongest and most effective wording?

Accepted Answer

A) Given the parameters of the situation, the most propitious choice would be to make adjustments in certain budget areas. 
B) We need to cut the operating budget by 12 percent or profits will decrease. 
C) Someone's going to need to do some budget cutting around here or heads will roll. 
D) Perusal of budgetary figures reveals that a 12 percent reduction in operations is called for if we are to stave off a negative impact on profits. 
A) Given the parameters of the situation, the most propitious choice would be to make adjustments in certain budget areas. 
B) We need to cut the operating budget by 12 percent or profits will decrease. 
C) Someone's going to need to do some budget cutting around here or heads will roll. 
D) Perusal of budgetary figures reveals that a 12 percent reduction in operations is called for if we are to stave off a negative impact on profits.

Question 3

A complex sentence consists of

Accepted Answer

A) two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. 
B) a single subject and a single predicate plus any modifying phrases. 
C) two or more independent clauses along with all modifying phrases. 
D) one main thought and one or more subordinate thoughts. 
A) two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. 
B) a single subject and a single predicate plus any modifying phrases. 
C) two or more independent clauses along with all modifying phrases. 
D) one main thought and one or more subordinate thoughts.

Question 4

In business writing, the topic sentence of a paragraph is

Accepted Answer

A) usually implied and is rarely included in the paragraph. 
B) generally explicit and is often the first sentence in the paragraph. 
C) often vague and is usually placed in the middle of the paragraph. 
D) most often understated and normally is the last sentence in the paragraph. 
A) usually implied and is rarely included in the paragraph. 
B) generally explicit and is often the first sentence in the paragraph. 
C) often vague and is usually placed in the middle of the paragraph. 
D) most often understated and normally is the last sentence in the paragraph.

Question 5

Grammarians and professional editors agree on the rules of grammar.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which type of software feature inserts a ready-made block of text when you type the first few characters?

Accepted Answer

A) Machine translation 
B) Mail merge 
C) Autocompletion 
D) Autocorrection 
A) Machine translation 
B) Mail merge 
C) Autocompletion 
D) Autocorrection

Question 7

"Insurance premiums have increased, and cost-of-living raises have not kept up" is a

Accepted Answer

A) simple sentence. 
B) compound sentence. 
C) complex sentence. 
D) compound-complex sentence. 
A) simple sentence. 
B) compound sentence. 
C) complex sentence. 
D) compound-complex sentence.

Question 8

To downplay a dependent clause in a complex sentence, you should

Accepted Answer

A) place it at the beginning of the sentence. 
B) place it at the end of the sentence. 
C) place it in the middle of the sentence. 
D) set it off with a semicolon. 
A) place it at the beginning of the sentence. 
B) place it at the end of the sentence. 
C) place it in the middle of the sentence. 
D) set it off with a semicolon.

Question 9

Honor and progress are concrete words.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What are the five most common techniques for developing paragraphs?

Accepted Answer

There are several common techniques for

Question 11

Select the sentence with the most positive emphasis:

Accepted Answer

A) We failed to complete the process audit on time. 
B) We hope to complete the process audit by Friday. 
C) We haven't completed the process audit. 
D) Because of Joan's inaccurate figures on the Haymen project, we are not finished with the process audit. 
A) We failed to complete the process audit on time. 
B) We hope to complete the process audit by Friday. 
C) We haven't completed the process audit. 
D) Because of Joan's inaccurate figures on the Haymen project, we are not finished with the process audit.

Question 12

Coherence between thoughts is achieved through the use of transitional words and phrases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Using the term crippled in business communication is an example of

Accepted Answer

A) the "you" attitude. 
B) emphasizing the positive. 
C) disability bias. 
D) none of the above. 
A) the "you" attitude. 
B) emphasizing the positive. 
C) disability bias. 
D) none of the above.

Question 14

Most business communication should aim for a ________ tone.

Accepted Answer

A) formal 
B) colloquial 
C) conversational 
D) confrontational 
A) formal 
B) colloquial 
C) conversational 
D) confrontational

Question 15

A compound sentence contains one main thought (independent clause)and one or more subordinate thoughts (dependent clauses).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

In messages that need to deal with difficult negative situations, it is best to emphasize the ________ aspects of your topic.

Accepted Answer

positive
Explanation:With difficult, neg

Question 17

When developing paragraphs, you should use only one method within each paragraph and throughout a document.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Plain language is a style of writing

Accepted Answer

A) used only for casual correspondence. 
B) designed to make complex materials more understandable to the audience. 
C) aimed primarily at readers for whom English is a second language. 
D) inappropriate for business communication. 
A) used only for casual correspondence. 
B) designed to make complex materials more understandable to the audience. 
C) aimed primarily at readers for whom English is a second language. 
D) inappropriate for business communication.

Question 19

The connotative meaning of a word is

Accepted Answer

A) its dictionary meaning. 
B) its literal meaning. 
C) all the associations and feelings the word evokes. 
D) its objective meaning. 
A) its dictionary meaning. 
B) its literal meaning. 
C) all the associations and feelings the word evokes. 
D) its objective meaning.

Question 20

The ________ meaning of a word is its literal, dictionary meaning, whereas the ________ meaning includes all the associations and feelings it evokes.

Accepted Answer

denotative, connotative
Explanation:The

Exam 5: Writing Business Messages

You are scheduled to discuss a negative performance evaluation with one of the employees you supervise. How can you emphasize the positive during your conversation?

Which of the following sentences contains the strongest and most effective wording?

A complex sentence consists of

In business writing, the topic sentence of a paragraph is

Grammarians and professional editors agree on the rules of grammar.

Which type of software feature inserts a ready-made block of text when you type the first few characters?

"Insurance premiums have increased, and cost-of-living raises have not kept up" is a

To downplay a dependent clause in a complex sentence, you should

Honor and progress are concrete words.

What are the five most common techniques for developing paragraphs?

Select the sentence with the most positive emphasis:

Coherence between thoughts is achieved through the use of transitional words and phrases.

Using the term crippled in business communication is an example of

Most business communication should aim for a ________ tone.

A compound sentence contains one main thought (independent clause)and one or more subordinate thoughts (dependent clauses).

In messages that need to deal with difficult negative situations, it is best to emphasize the ________ aspects of your topic.

When developing paragraphs, you should use only one method within each paragraph and throughout a document.

Plain language is a style of writing

The connotative meaning of a word is

The ________ meaning of a word is its literal, dictionary meaning, whereas the ________ meaning includes all the associations and feelings it evokes.

Achieving Success Through Effective Business Communication

Mastering Team Skills and Interpersonal Communication

Communicating in a World of Diversity

Planning Business Messages

Completing Business Messages

Electronic Media

Social Media

Visual Media

Writing Routine and Positive Messages

Writing Negative Messages

Writing Persuasive Messages

Finding, Evaluating, and Processing Information

Planning Reports and Proposals

Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals

Developing Oral and Online Presentations

Enhancing Presentations with Slides and Other Visuals

Building Careers and Writing Résumés

Applying and Interviewing for Employment

Handbook of Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage

Format and Layout of Business Documents

Documentation of Report Sources

Filters

The meaning of a word is its literal, dictionary meaning, whereas the meaning includes all the associations and feelings it evokes.